Dry Mouth

Saliva is necessary for us as it helps keep the mouth clean and in the digestion of food. The presence of saliva prevents bacterial and fungal infections. Dry mouth, also called xerostomia, is a condition in which one’s body can’t produce enough saliva to keep the mouth wet.

• A side effect of certain medications: Dry mouth is a side effect of numerous drugs and medicines, including drugs used to treat pain, anxiety, allergies, depression, and colds (antihistamines and decongestants), skin inflammation, epilepsy, hypertension (diuretics), nausea, diarrhoea, urinary infections, asthma (certain bronchodilators), and Parkinson’s. Muscle relaxants and narcotics can also cause dry mouth.
• Specific medical treatments: Some medical treatments may cause damage to salivary glands, thus causing dry mouth. Chemotherapy may be a cause.
• Side effects of specific illnesses and diseases: Dry mouth can result from ailments, including Sjögren’s disorder, HIV/AIDS, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and mumps.
• Nerve damage: Dry mouth can be a consequence of nerve damage in the neck or head area.
• Dehydration due to diarrhoea, fever, sweating, blood loss can cause dry mouth.
• Smoking can also aggravate dry mouth.